September 19, New York, NY – A high level conference and interactive exhibit, “(Zero Gravity) 0G Summit – Space Diplomacy in the Age of NewSpace” announced today its mission to make Space the New Frontier for Peace during the prestigious 2017 Concordia Annual Summit, on the side-lines of the General Debate of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Namira Salim, co-chaired0G Summit, her brainchild, which is the lead initiative of her non-profit, nonpartisan organization, Space Trust. The event was co-chaired, moderated and hosted by Dr. Lance Bush, President & CEO of Challenger Center. “This year’s 0G Summit dialogue reinforced the importance of the space industry and the benefits it offers to citizens around the globe,” said Dr. Lance Bush. “To ensure the industry continues to innovate at a high level, it is critical that we all work to inspire today’s students to pursue space and other STEM-related careers.”

Namira is internationally renowned as the first (future) Space Tourist from South Asia, Middle East and Monaco to go to space aboard Virgin Galactic—the first private space-line of the world. Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, personally introduced Namira to the world press in Dubai in 2006, as one of the earliest Founders of Virgin Galactic. “As spacefaring and new space nations expand co-operation via human and robotic missions, the world is on the verge of ushering Space ‘Shuttle’ Diplomacy,” said Namira Salim. “So, why not open space to world leaders and politicians to utilize the orbit for sustainable peace making and conflict resolution on earth?”

Distinguished speakers included H.E. Laura Chinchilla, former President of Costa Rica; H.E. Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, former President of Uruguay; Sherri Goodman, Former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense and Dr. Dava Newman, Former Deputy Administrator of NASA who applauded the 0G Summit thought leadership, which advocates space as an innovative solution for a peaceful world—to inject innovation and inspiration into the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. “I am looking forward to 0G Summit’s thought leadership for the future of global, peaceful space exploration, for all of humanity” said Dr. Dava Newman, Former Deputy Administrator NASA. “We are pleased to host the 0G Summit during the 2017 Concordia Annual Summit to enable effective partnerships for positive social impact and to transform the way global leaders approach the world’s greatest challenges,” said Matt Swift, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Concordia.

The event made a strong case for the first peace summit in space in 2030 and unveiled an Interactive APP showing the assembly of a private space station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and launch of the 0G Summit into orbit, which mystified the audience via large LCD screens. Giant space images on exhibit came alive into 3D Augmented Reality APPs to provide an immersive experience into the space environment. Furthermore, the event spotlighted a high-level roundtable discussion, which presented a cross-sector collaboration between peacemakers, space industry pioneers, space investors, space diplomacy, foreign policy and space law experts to foster a meaningful dialogue and advocate the First Peace Summit in Space by 2030. 0G Summit 2030 is being observed by United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and was presented this past February in Vienna at the 54th Session of the Scientific and Technical Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

Currrent and former Heads of State at the broader Concordia Summit included Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; José María Aznar, former Prime Minister of Spain; Aleksander Kwaśniewski, former President of the Republic of Poland; Rosen Asenov Plevneliev, former President of Republic of Bulgaria; Danilo Türk, former President of the Republic of Slovenia; Álvaro Uribe Vélez, former President of the Republic of Colombia; Boris Tadić, former President of the Republic of Serbia; Dr. Fuad Masum, President of the Republic of Iraq; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; George Papandreou, former Prime Minister of Greece; Zlatko (Salko) Lagumdžija, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Christine Lagarde, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, amongst other eminent personalities.

Past 0G Summits have featured Congressman Jim Bridenstine, Representative of Oklahoma’s First Congressional District and recently nominated by President Trump as the next NASA Administrator and Ms. Simonetta Di Pippo, Director United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA).

The (Zero Gravity) 0G Summit, has been advocating the first peace summit in orbit by 2030. The International Space Station has become a beacon‎ for international cooperation in space—where future commercial space stations in orbit by the mid-2020s could serve as a concrete platform for convenings in zero gravity.

About Space Trust 0G Summit, is the lead initiative of Space Trust, a nonpartisan and non-profit initiative that champions world peace through novel Space themed initiatives to inspire change, encourage dialogue and enrich education. Furthermore, it advocates Space as the New Frontier for Peace. www.spacetrust.com

About Namira Salim

Namira Salim is internationally renowned as the first (future) Space Tourist from South Asia, Middle East and Monaco to go to space aboard Virgin Galactic—the first private space-line of the world. Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, personally introduced Namira to the world press in Dubai in 2006, as one of the earliest Founders of Virgin Galactic.

Namira is an avid promoter of Private Spaceflight, the new age of space exploration and a keen advocate of peaceful uses of Space. She has undertaken pioneering peace expeditions to all three poles of the world, and is the first Pakistani and first woman from Monaco and the UAE to have reached the North and South Poles in 2007/08, as well as the first Asian to skydive (tandem) over Mount Everest in 2008. Namira holds a Master of International Affairs from Columbia University. She is a regular speaker at top space industry events and UN Conferences and has held official peace-themed exhibitions during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris and OIC Day at UNESCO and several events under the Patronage of Royalty from Monaco and Dubai. Namira has served as an Honorary Ambassador for Pakistan and Honorary Consul in the Principality of Monaco, where she is based since 20 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namira_Salim